All packaging – regardless of the material, shape and type – serves a similar purpose. It keeps the product secure and safe from being damaged for starters. It informs about the contents and gives instructions for proper use. But what we often desire the most from packaging, is that it attracts customer attention. Designers frequently use simple methods to create the biggest impact – and one of these methods is using reflective materials. In this blog post, we wanted to discuss different choices our clients have when it comes to choosing metallic labels.
The first decision is the printing method – since the processes differ slightly between flexographic and digital presses. If you are printing larger volumes it makes more sense to go with flexo printing, as you have a better choice of materials and finishing. In this quick blog post, we want to give you some basic information about the methods we offer, too.
Silver or Gold Foil
The second decision is to focus on the printing material.
The nice and easy solution is to print on the silver or gold foil – a paper substrate with a metallic layer. Even if the reflective elements are only meant to be a relatively small part of the label – the rest of the can be overprinted with various colours over white or reverse printed entirely to only reveal the shiny text i.e.
Metallic ink
Another solution is using metallic ink. There are many different shades to choose from. You cannot of course expect the same level of shimmer and sparkle – the colour imitates the gold and silver but it’s not as reflective as the previous method. It is one of the cheaper options, so if you’re on a tight budget – this might be your favourite.
Cold Foiling
This method is certainly not the cheapest, but it offers stunning results in appropriate places. It’s achieved by treating the metallic foil laminate as an ink, using a printing plate and stripping away the excess material. Great solution if you need metallic elements on a clear material.
All methods are popular – depending on your budget, product type and finish required. If you are having doubts about which one is best for you we offer free consultation and 30 years of experience in the labelling industry.
Varnish and lamination
Finally – the last step possible (excluding cold stamping) is adding a varnish. It can be gloss, to add even more shine or matt to dull the look and create a completely different effect. Lamination is more expensive but it will give a more pronounced glossy finish, providing excellent protection, if needed.
The power of a good label
Let us know if you would like to learn more about our labels. We specialise in labelling different products across many industries. We hold BRC certification, which gives customers extra peace of mind in terms of hygiene and food safety. Our company has over 30 years’ experience and our team of experts can find a solution to any labelling problems.
Etiquette Labels specialise in manufacturing plain and printed labels, but we can also deliver one-of-a-kind complete labelling solutions, looking after all of your labelling needs – from designing the label to the application process.
Read more about our:
- automatic labelling applicators here.
- semi-automatic labelling applicators here.
- print-and-apply machines here.
You can also visit our YouTube channel for demo videos and setup tutorials.
To find out more about our complete labelling solutions visit our website, youtube channel, give us a call on 01978 664544 or you can email us at sales@etiquette.co.uk.